The Specter's Desire
- May 24, 2024
- Themisian
Get on SteamIn "The Specter's Desire" , you play as Colton, an editor who becomes a Rising Star in Aurea's annual Desire Hierarchy to make his dreams come true. But when his parents are kidnapped by a ghost named Spectra, he must fight to win the competition and save them. This year's Hierarchy has ghosts causing chaos, making it more challenging than ever before.
Reviews
- The game features a diverse and well-written cast of characters, each with unique personalities and development that enhance the overall experience.
- The variety of gameplay mechanics, including puzzles, card games, and social deduction elements, keeps the experience fresh and engaging throughout the lengthy playtime.
- The narrative is compelling, with a strong mystery that hooks players and keeps them invested in the outcome of each chapter and encounter.
- Some gameplay segments, particularly in the final act, can feel underwhelming or repetitive, detracting from the overall excitement of the story.
- The investigation segments can drag on and may not be as engaging as the high-stakes games, leading to moments of boredom.
- The hint system for puzzles is inconsistent, with some hints being unhelpful or overly specific, which can lead to frustration during challenging segments.
- story14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The story is centered around a high-stakes tournament involving celebrities in a city dominated by celebrity culture, featuring a mix of humor, tension, and well-developed characters. Players engage with a variety of narrative elements, including investigation segments and intense confrontations, though some find the handling of antagonists repetitive. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its depth and character interactions, enhanced by strong voice acting, making it a compelling experience despite some pacing issues in later chapters.
“Above all, the cast is best when they are interacting with each other, differing personalities clashing in humorous ways that contribute a nice sprinkle of comedy to the otherwise tense situations Colton finds himself in throughout the story.”
“The story revolves around someone who's gotten caught up in this big game tournament of celebrities and those deemed the most important in the city, a city that's more dictated by celebrity culture than the rest of the country, and the mysteries surrounding some of the key players that were once involved with this tournament.”
“Every chapter had its highlights one way or another thanks to the expert storytelling, whether it was through the humor, the mystery and suspense, the character interactions, or the games (within the game).”
“Another issue I had was with how the story handles antagonists.”
“Being a story centered around a game focused on deception and betrayal, you encounter this pattern of character development quite a few times with quite a few antagonists, and it frustrates each time.”
“For me, much of the third arc (of five) is one long game with multiple challenges in it, and while the story there is tense and exciting, the actual puzzles fell flat for me.”
- gameplay11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "The Specter's Desire" is praised for its ambitious variety and creativity, featuring a mix of mechanics and encounters that reflect the protagonist's gaming experiences. While this diversity is a highlight, it also leads to inconsistencies, with some segments being engaging and others feeling clunky or frustrating, particularly in the final encounter. Overall, despite some gameplay flaws, the game is recommended for its fun characters and intriguing plot.
“I'm in awe at the variety of mechanics and encounters in this game; it feels like something this ambitious should have taken twice as long to make as it did, especially with such a small team behind it.”
“The specter's desire has a quite eclectic mix of different gameplay segments.”
“Fun cast, interesting gameplay, good plot.”
“The variety of gameplay in this visual novel is both a strength and a fault.”
“Additionally, I found the final encounter that more or less just mashed every type of gameplay into one escape puzzle to be a bit messy and clunky.”
“I assume this was an engine limitation, but it was still frustrating, especially in the endgame which seemed meticulously designed to bring back all of the worst points of the game, gameplay-wise.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game offers extensive character development, particularly for the main character, allowing players to explore diverse philosophies and motivations. However, the frequent focus on deception and betrayal can lead to frustration, especially regarding the development of antagonists.
“Thanks to the game's size, there's a lot of room for character development of all types, especially for the main character. You also get to see the nitty-gritty of everyone's philosophies, which can be very interesting to some.”
“Being a story centered around deception and betrayal, you encounter this pattern of character development quite a few times with several antagonists, and it adds a layer of complexity to the narrative.”
“Being a story centered around a game focused on deception and betrayal, you encounter this pattern of character development quite a few times with quite a few antagonists, and it frustrates each time.”
“The character development feels shallow and predictable, lacking the depth needed to make the players truly care about their journeys.”
“While there are moments of potential, the overall character arcs are poorly executed, leaving many characters feeling one-dimensional and forgettable.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game shines through the interactions between the diverse cast, with their clashing personalities providing comedic relief amidst tense situations. Each chapter features highlights that blend humor with storytelling, enhancing the overall experience.
“Above all, the cast is best when they are interacting with each other, differing personalities clashing in humorous ways that contribute a nice sprinkle of comedy to the otherwise tense situations Colton finds himself in throughout the story.”
“Every chapter had its highlights one way or another thanks to the expert storytelling, whether it was through the humor, the mystery and suspense, the character interactions, or the games (within the game).”
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for being fun and clever, complementing the overall high quality of the art and voice acting. Players appreciate how it enhances the experience, even during challenging segments.
“The music is fantastic and really enhances the overall experience of the game.”
“The soundtrack is catchy and perfectly complements the gameplay, making every moment enjoyable.”
“The combination of art, music, and voice acting creates an immersive atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”
